Resilient wheel.



F. H. BAUER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. la. |917.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

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F. H. BAUER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I3. I9I1.

1,287,185. Patented Dec.10,1918.

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JM J6' F. H. BAUER. RESILI'ENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3. IBII.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

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F. H. BAUER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. la. 19u.

Ptented Dec. 10, 1918.

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UNITE@ STATES PATENT FFICE.

FREDERICK I-I. BAUER, 0F FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

IRIESILIENT WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed November 13, 1917. Serial No. 201,838.

luse upon farming machinery, trucks; gun

carriages and the like. Y

One of the primary objects of the invention resides in providing a resilient wheel having a flexible yielding rim of relatively great width so constructed that it may flatten to a certain extent under a load to provide a large ground engaging surface so that a iirm grip upon the road bed may be obtained and a large bearing surface to support the load provided.

A still further object of my invention resides in providing a novel connection between this rim and the hub consisting of a number of slides mounted in the hub, certain of which are disposed at right angles to the remainder, some of the slides .being fixed at their outer ends to the rim and the remaining slides having roller abutment with the rim.

In this connection another object which I have in view is to provide toggle joint connections between the various slides and hub and to provide springs normally holding the toggle joint connections in one position so that movement of the slides through the hub7 such as is necessary during distortion ot' the rim, will be opposed by the springs.

Another object which I have in view is the provision of means whereby the hub and correlated parts, such as the togglemechanism and springs, may be inclosed in a housing to protect them from dirt and moisture.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of adjustable means for restraining the distortion of the wheel under any load imposed upon it.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and

then specifically pointed out in the claims.

which term a part of this application.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side'elevation of the wheel, the housing being omitted;

Fig. .2 is a top plan view of the same, partially in section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, looking at the opposite side from that shown in Fig. l;

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view of the hub structure, taken on the line Lis-1 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary sectional view on the line 5 5 yoit' Fig. 2 of the adjusting mechanism for-'restraining the distortion of the wheel;

Fig. 6v is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows with the housing in position;

Fig. 7 is a Vperspective view of one of the slides having lixed connection with the rim.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating an alternative construction, and' also illustrating the relative positions' of the parts under a load. 'f

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings bythe same reference characters.

My improved wheel consists primarily of a rim 10, hubk 11, a plurality' of slides 12 having fixed connection with the rim' and sliding connection with the hub, and a plurality of slides 13 having roller abutment engagement with the rim and sliding engagement with the hub.V

More specifically the rim is formed of a plurality of superimposed layers', bands, or rings of any suitableY flexible resilient material such as steel or the like, these various bands being indicated bythe numeral 14. Because of this structure any load imposed upon the rim may flatten that portion engaging the ground, the amount of flattening, of course, depending upon the weight of the load and also upon the resistance of certain controlling mechanism whichwillbe later explained. The main body Of the hub 11 includes an intermediate disk 15 and front and rear/slide receiving disks 16 and 17. Theinterm'edi- 'ate' disk, as shown in Fig. 4, may bemore in the -nature of a ring, while the front and rear'disks are formed centrally with spindle receiving bores 18 in order that the wheel maybe mounted upon the axle 64. The front disk'16 is channeled or cut-away to provide a pair of parallel channels or slideways 19 adjacent diametrically opposite portions of its periphery and is further channeled to provide a second pair of slideways 20 which are parallel to the first and disposedsomewhat closer to each other being located between the first slideways and the axle receiving bore 18. In like manner `the opposite or back disk `17 is formed with slideways 21 and slideways 22 corresponding to the slideways 19 and 20 respectively, but extending at righ-t angles to the slidei ways of the disk 16. Retaining strips 23 and 24 project at their edges partially across the outer faces of the slideways 19, being secured to the disk 16 by screws or bolts 25 Vor other suitable means. Furthermore, the opposite edges of the strips 24 extend partially across the slideways 20 with such edges spaced somewhat from the edges of coperating vstrips 26 which extend partially across the slideways 20 from the opposite side. Simif lar strips 23, 24 and 26 are secured on the disk 17 in the samerelative positions. The inner ends of the slides 12 are mounted in the slideways 20 and'22 respectively while the inner ends of the slides 13 are mounted in the slideways 19 and 21 respectively. Rollers 27 disposed in thefside walls of the slideways at suitable intervals serve to support the various slides for free movement.. The above described hub may be formed of any suitable material but is preferably constructed of metal in order to be sufliciently strong and durable and tooffer as little friction as rpossible to the various slides.

Each slide 13 is preferablyy a bar of metal of suitable length and rectangular in cross section to correspond t0 the shape of the slideways, and the outer end thereof is cutaway to provide a seat for a bearing-plate 28 which: is secured kto one side of the slide by i" fastening screws or bolts 29 and which projects at its outer end beyond the adjacent end of ythe slide. Furthermore each slide at its outer end is additionally cut-away in order that an. abutment roller 30 may be mounted between its uncut-away portion and the bearf ing plate 28 upona roller shaft 31 fixed in the end -of the slide and in the bearing plate. The rollers of these various slides engage against the inner faces v of arcuate wear plates 32 which are securedy to the inner face lof thefrim 10, as shown at 33,1and each of Vand mounted upon such free endis al small anti`-friction roller 36which engages against the face o'f the guideway 34 so that the roller 30 will atjall times be heldin engagement with ythe wear plate 32 even though the rim Vis moving away from the hub. At this point it should be noted that the slides 13 in the front disk 16 extend from the hub in opposite directions to each other as also do the same slides of the hub disk 17. The slides 12 of each h ub disk are each a simple bar, rectangular in cross-section to correspond to its slideway and secured to the rim at one end by a laterally directed bracket 37 and bolts 38. Y

Pivot bolts 39 connect links 40 and 41 with a slide 12 and a slide 13 respectively of the hub disk 16 which extend in the saine direction toward the rim and links 42 and 43, pivoted to the ends of the links and 41 respectively, are secured by a common pivot bolt 44 to the hub at such a. point that in substantially normal position of the wheel the links 40 and 41 diverge slightly toward their respective points of connection with the slides, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Helical springs 45 and 46 are secured at one end to the intermediate portions of the links 42 and 43 and at their opposite ends to the hub disk 16, as shown at 477 so that any movement of the slides 12 and 13 in a direction from their outer ends toward their inner ends will be resisted by said springs through the toggle mechanism consisting of the links 40, 42 andv 41, 43.

The other slide 12 of the same hub disk is provided with a spacer bar 48 which extends in parallel spaced relation to its outer face and has an olf-set head 49 which is secured to the outer end of the slide and an off-set head 50 which iS secured to the inner end of the slide, this latter head having its side faces channeled, as shown at 51, to receiveV the strips 24 and 26. The other slide 13 of the same hub disk 16 carries a spacer block 52 which has its side edges channeled to receive the strips 23 and 24as indicated in Fig. 1. Pivot bolts 53 connect links 54 and 55, one to the spacer strip 48 and one to the spacer block 52, and links 56 and 57 are pivotally connected to the free ends of the links 54 'and 55 respectively and at their free ends are pivoted to each other and to a common spacer stud 58, asbest shown in Fig. 4. By this means the links 54, 56 and 55, 57 making up toggle joint mechanisms, are free for movement over the links making up the toggle joint mechanisms first described. Springs 59 and 60 connected to the intermediate portions of the links 56 and 57 are connected at their free ends to a bracket 61 secured to the hub'disky 16.

The slides of the hub disk 17 are joined by toggle joint mechanisms havingl springs actingA thereon. As the structure is Yidentical with that just described in connection with the disk 16 repetition of the description is unnecessary and the corresponding parts have been given like reference numerals upon theY drawings. A suitable housing 62 of any suitable design and preferably of llO this housing'Y is not ran absolute essential IV prefer its use as itiiot only protects the inclosed parts from dirt and moisture but also `from injury. or displacement suoli asfmight occur if the vehicle is driven through bushes or other obstructions. y

The operation of thek above described Vwheel will be readily understood. Any load imposed upon the hub will, of course, be transmitted through the slides to the flexible resilient rim With the result that :flattening of the rim Will be caused at its Vpoint ofcoutact with-the ground, this flattening being partially resisted through the resiliency of the rim itself and partially through the strain exerted upon the various springs of the Wheel hub through their connection between the toggle mechanisms of the particular slides iii substantially vertical alineinent With the ground. Obviously as the Wheel revolves the resiliency oli' the rim and springs combined will tend to return the attened portion of the rim to normal position so that that wheels of this character should be positively driven rather than mounted-for idle turning upon the axle, as if mounted for idle turning there Will be a tendency for the Wheels to drag along the ground rather than to revolve.

In many instances it is advisable, particularly When especially heavy loads are to be employed, to provide mea-ns for restraining distortion of the Wheel, and su'chine'ans is most efficient if adjustable. In Figs. 1,42, 5, 6 and 8 I have illustrated mea-iis for accom-l plishing this object. A bracket 63 is secured to any part of the vehicle which will maintain the same relative position with respect tothe axle 6l and has an upturned head 65 to which is secured an intermediate supporting lplate 66 extending parallel to the plane of the rear face of the Wheel and formed at either' side of the bracket With longitudinally extending slots67. Contractor arms 68 engage against the upper and loiver faces of the ends of the plates 66 and are apertured to receive bolts 69 whereby the contractor plates are movable toivard and aivay from each other along the intermediate'plate 66. The outer ends of the coiitractorarms or plates carry brackets 70 which journal rollers 7l engaging against the peripheral outer face of the rim and smaller rollers 72 enga ging against the inner peripheral face of the rim at either side. Obviously, if the contractor arms are heldin any fixed position rthe Wheel rim -must follow the path set by the rollers and will be, consequently, re-

Oit' course, it will doubtless be appreciated stra-ined against excessive spreading oi' distortion", While at the same time the 'rollers the Wheel. n

Willin no Way interfereA with the turningv of The inner ends of the upper sections of the arms are eut atopposed angles, as shown at j 73, being also undercut as indicated in Fig. .5, to receivethe beveled angularly disposed edges of a Wedge 74 so that the contractor arms maybe forced away from each other to any desired extent, Within the limits .of the l Wedge. The lower sections of the contractor arms are formed With depending ribs 75 Y (see F ig. 5) at their innerv ends extending at correspondingly opposed angles to each nother tobe engaged by the arms 76 of a contractor clamp 77. This clamp is substantially U-shaped save that its arms converge toward their free ends to correspond to the angularity of the ribs 75, and the'clampis preferably formed as an ofset portion oiE an adjusting sleeve 78 Whichis threaded upon an adjusting screw 79 projecting laterally from the bracket 63. .Nuts 80 threaded upon the adjusting `screw 7 9, onel against either end of. the sleeve, serve as a means for both adjusting the position Vof the sleeve and consequently of the contractor clampv 77, and as a mea-ns for securing such parts in adjusted position. The sleeve has a further off-set portion 8l projecting above the clamp 77 andlhaving one face channeled at 82 to provide a. seat lirmly engaging the Wider edge of the Wedge 74:. With this arrangement it Will be apparent that by proper manipulation of the nuts 80 the sleeve 78 may bc moved toward the head 65, providing the intermediate portion of the clamp v77 is suinciently spaced from the contractor arms, to

move the arms of the contractor clamp out" of engagement with the ribs and to at .the

at which the opposite rollers 7l are set may be readily varied at Will` and the parts maybe firmly locked in adjusted position. f

In Fig. 8 means Vare shown for positively rotating the Wheel regardless of the degree `of distortion under the load'.- Thisk consists in attaching a gear Wheel 83'to the axle 64 and mounting a. pinion Satupon a stubshaft wtoivard each other. By this means the space 85 supported' lin anyk suitable manner onsthe Y .framework of the vehicle, not shown; The

drivingrpoiver from' the motor is to be zapplied to the shaft 85 insteadof tothe axle 64a Having thus describedfthe invention, what is claimed as new is: v z y Y 1. A yresilient Wheel including a exible -rini adapted to besdistorted under strain,

a hub, and a plurality of membershaving sliding engagement with the'liub, certain-r of the members at ltheir outer endsbeing fixed to the rim and certain ofL the members at'their outer ends abutting againstztlielrim.

2. Ai'esilient wheel i1icluding:a;flexible rim ,a dapted to; be distorted .unden strain, a

hub, a.u plurality 4oi: .amembers having Y, slid- .ing engagement :at o their .innerp. ends -with the aliub, certain of the members'xbeing riixed at their outer ends ,toitheqi'inn and rollers carried by the .outer ends of .the other members fand engaging [the rim. c

13. A resilient wheelincludingia `flexible resilient rim adapted .to be distorted under -strain, ka hub, a: plurality of 'parallelrmem- :bers having .slidingfengagement vwith-@the VVhub, one pair. :of such inembers-zliaving, their oppositely directed-ends fixed tothe rim; and

, the other pair of such members having their oliliositelydirected ends abutting against the ri1n and a :plurality of additional members corresponding to-c, the `first and` correspondingly mounted but at rightangles tothe tirst.

,4; Aresilient wheel includingaresilient "flexible rim. l adapted: to' :be f :distorted funder stra-in, a hub, a pluralityofcniembers slidably mounted in the liub,.t-lie Areeiends :of

flexible f rim'l adapted ,tol ,be-p distorted under strain, a hub, a plurality of members yslidably mountedin the hub,`the:free ends of certain tof :said members being fixed-,to the i rim,.a pluralityof rollers'carried by the free ends of'` the remaining membersfand engag- Y `ingr the; rim, and resilient means acting" to c holdv the imembers in predetermined position, said-'resilient means including toggle yjoint `mechanisms connecting the several Vmembers .with thehub, `andfsprmgs1con nected at one' end ,to tliehub and.v atl their opposite ends ,to certain portions of the toggle joint mechanisms.

y6. resilient ,wheel including la rim formed of yafpluralityv of superimposed laykersfof flexible; resilient material, a` hub havv ingxa plurality 4of slidewa-ys, a` plurality/fof slides inountedone in each of the slideways,

k1 certain of the fs'lidesv 'beingparallel, to4 each otlierand extending at right anglesto the Y Y, Aremaining vslides, ziastening means-,between 'the freeendsof certain of both'groups 'of tliecfslides andthe rim, and rollers carried Y 1 by -tlieffree' Vendsot'the remaining slides `L60."

and ,eni,.g;agingiy againstthe inner facev yotf the r. -f resilientffwlieel-` including a rim forniedwof av plurality ofsuperimposed layc ers :ofiiexible `resilient* material, ga hub having-a`r pluralityiof slideways, afplurality o slides l.mounted one in each of the slideways,

certain of the slides being parallel to each other and' extending at right angles to the remaining slides, Afastening means between thefree endsofrcertain yof both groups of ttheslides and-the rim, rollers carried by the vtree ends of the remaining slides, Wear members secured tothe inner Ltaceoithe rim to be engaged bythe rollers and each having. an undercut edge, and arms mounted upon the roller carrying slides and having lateralterminals carrying rollers engaging beneathy the undercut' shoulders of the wear members.

'Y J8. Agresilient Lwheel including a resilient flexible rim capable of being iiattened under load,-a hub, slidingeleinents coperating between the hub and rim and operatively en- Vgaging the two, springs holding thesliding elements in a predetermined position'with .respect to the hub and rim, and means for restraining the distortion of vthe rim.

9. yA resilient wheel including a resilient flexiblev rim-'capable of being flattened under load, al hub, sliding elements coperating between the hub andrim and operatively engaging the two, springs holding the sliding yelements in a-predetermined position with respect to the hub and rim, and means for :restraining the ,distortion of the rim, said .means-'being adjustable.

10. A resilient wheel including a resilient flexible rim Ycapable 'of being vflattened under load, a hub, sliding elements coperating between the hub and rim and operatively engaging the two, springs holding the sliding ,elements in a predetermined position with -respect to the hub and rim, and means :tor lrestraining the-distortion of the rim, said lmeans including horizontally disposed meni- A.bers adjustable toward and away from each other, means for securing the members in adjusted position, and rollers carried by the members and engaging against the outer face of the riniv at substantially diametrically opposed points.

11. A resilient wheel including a resilient llexible rimcap'able of being `flattened under load, a hub, sliding elements coperating be- VYtweentheghub andriin andl operatively en- -gaging the two, springs holding` the sliding elements-in. a predetermined position with respect to the hub and rim, and means for Vrestraining the distortion of the rim, said means including horizontally disposednienibers adjust-able toward and away from each -other,1neans for .securing the members in adjusted position, rollers carried'. by the members and yengaging against the outer yi'ace of the rim atfrsubstantially diametrically opposed points, and additional rollers carried by such' members and engaging against the edge portions of the V.inner peripheral face of the rim. I

l2. Thecombination with a resilient -wheel having a. rim capable of flattening under a load, of adgustable means to restrain distortion of the rim, said means including a bracket, a supporting plate carried by the bracket with its end portion slotted, arms to engage above and below the slotted ends of the plate and slidable toward and from each other, fastening devices passed through the arms and the slots of the plate to guide the sliding action of the arms with respect to the plate, roller elements carried by the arms and engaging against the inner and outer peripheral faces of therim of the wheel, and means carried by the bracket for securing the arms against movement toward and away from each other.

13. The combination With a resilient Wheel having a rim capable of flattening unm` der a load, of adjustable means to restrain distortion of the rim, said means including a bracket, a supporting plate carried by the bracket with its end portion slotted, arms to engage above and below the slotted ends of the plate and slidable on the plate, fastening devices passed through the arms and the slots of the plate to guide the sliding action ofthe arms with respect to the plate, roller elements carried by the arms and engaging against the inner `and outer peripheral faces of the rim of the Wheel, and means carried by the bracket including ka substantially U shaped contractor clamp the arms of which converge tovvardptheir free ends, correspondingly converging ribs formed upon the adjacent ends of the arms at one side of the plate and engaged by the arms of the clamp7 the corresponding ends of the arms above the plate being correspondingly beveled, a Wedge engaging between such beveled ends, a sleeve carried by the clamp and having an abutment engaging against the Wedge, a threaded adjusting screw upon Which the sleeve operates and clamping nuts upon the screw engaging opposite ends of the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I aliiX my signature.

FREDERICK II. BAUER. [Ls] Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressng the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

